Training for Private Applicators Under the EPA Plan
Private applicators who plan to use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs) on Indian country that is covered by the EPA Plan for the Federal Certification of Pesticide Applicators within Indian Country (EPA Plan) have the option to take EPA’s private applicator training instead of submitting a copy of a valid private applicator certification.*
Who is a Private Applicator?
A private applicator is a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of RUPs for the purposes of producing any agricultural commodity:
- On property owned or rented by the applicator or the applicator’s employer; or
- On the property of another person if applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities.
Training Information
EPA periodically offers a free training course via webinar. The training is a total of 12 hours, presented on two consecutive days, as indicated in the chart below.
EPA is currently offering the training once a quarter. Private applicators who choose the training option to obtain certification must take the webinar training course.
To use this method to become certified as a private applicator, submit within 30 calendar days of completing the training to the EPA regional office where you intend to apply RUPs.
- a completed application form; and
- a copy of the “Proof of Completion” that you can download and print when you finish the webinar training.
You must include the two random codes presented in the webinar training on your “Proof of Completion.”
Register for Training
Space is limited in each training course. To register, send an email to EPAcertplan@epa.gov by the registration date indicated below with your full name and preferred date(s) from the options below. You will receive an email confirming your acceptance in the course and providing information on how to access the training.
Training Dates
Courses start promptly at 10:15 a.m. eastern time
| 2025 Course Dates | Register by |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, February 26 and Thursday, 27, 2025 | February 25, 2025 |
| Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8 | May 6, 2025 |
| Wednesday, August 6 and Thursday, August 7 | August 5, 2025 |
| Wednesday, November 5 and Thursday, November, 6 | November 4, 2025 |
*Some states require a state certification to purchase RUPs from dealers within the state. Therefore, if you plan to purchase from a dealer located in a particular state, you should check with the state to determine if possession of the federal certificate will allow you to purchase RUPs
What Should Applicators Do Before Using RUPs Under the EPA Plan?
Certified applicators and noncertified applicators under the direct supervision of certified applicators should be aware that several tribes have their own certification plans and are not covered by the EPA Plan. Tribes may also have tribal codes, regulations or laws that restrict or prohibit use of general-use pesticides and/or RUPs. EPA recommends all pesticide applicators consult with the relevant tribe before applying pesticides in Indian country.